JPH04333155A - Commodity data input terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To previously check the connection state of a communication circuit by transmitting the dummy data that gives no influence to the control data of a host computer through a handy terminal. CONSTITUTION:When a test transmission mode is selected, a dummy text is edited in a prescribed telegram format and sent to a host computer via a communication circuit. When the transmission of the dummy text is normally complete, a communication end screen is displayed. Meanwhile a communication error screen is displayed if the transmission of the dummy text is not normally complete. The host computer disuses its data with reception of the dummy text. In such a constitution, the preceding communication test is possible as necessary.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a product data input terminal capable of transmitting data related to product sales entered from a keyboard or the like to a host computer via a communication line such as a public telephone line.

0002

[Background Art] In recent years, each salesperson in charge of an event venue is provided with a portable product data input terminal, and when a customer requests to purchase an exhibit, the corresponding product sales data is input from the keyboard of the terminal, etc. Enter and memorize. For example, if a certain amount of data is stored, each product sales data stored in the terminal is transmitted to a host computer installed at the headquarters etc. for management using a communication means such as a public line. There is a sales system designed to do this.

[0003] Conventionally, product data input terminals used in such sales systems check the connection status of the line when actually transmitting the product data input from the keyboard or the like via the communication line. Ta.

0004

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, in conventional terminals for inputting product data of this type, the connection status of the line could only be checked when actually transmitting the product data. was delayed, leading to a decline in processing efficiency.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention provides a product data input terminal that can check the connection status of a communication line in advance by transmitting dummy data with a simple operation, and can improve the efficiency of actual data transmission work. This is what I am trying to do.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a product data input terminal that transmits data related to product sales, etc. input from a data input section to a host computer via a communication line, in which a test transmission mode is selected. test communication control means for creating a test text using preset dummy data and transmitting it to the host computer via a communication line when a test communication mode is selected by the selection means; and test result output means for outputting the communication results.

[0007]

[Operation] With the present invention having such a configuration, when the test transmission mode is selected, a test text is created using preset dummy data and transmitted to the host computer via the communication line. If there is no response from the host computer indicating normal termination, it is determined that the line is abnormal, and information indicating the line abnormality is displayed, for example, and is notified to the operator. In this case, if the line is normal, dummy data is sent to the host computer, but this dummy data is discarded by the host computer, so it does not affect the management data in the host computer.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall diagram of a sales system using a handy terminal, which is a portable product data input terminal, in which 1 is the above-mentioned handy terminal, 2 is a modem, 3 and 4 are telephones, and 5 is a host. It's a computer. The handy terminal 1 and the modem 2, the modem 2 and the telephone 3, and the telephone 4 and the host computer 5 are connected via communication cables 6a, 6b, 6c such as RS232C, respectively. There is. Both telephones 3 and 4 are connected via a public line 7.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the handy terminal 1. As shown in FIG. The processor 11 constitutes the main body of the control unit, and includes a ROM (read-only memory) 13 for storing program data, character generator data, etc. via a bus line 12, and a RAM for storing input product data, etc. (Random access memory)
14. A clock circuit 15 that measures date and time; a keyboard controller 17 that receives key signals from a keyboard 16 equipped with keys for inputting product data such as product codes and scores; and key-input product data, etc. a display controller 19 that drives and controls the liquid crystal display 18 for displaying the information, a printer controller 21 that drives and controls the dot printer 20 that prints out key-input product data, etc., and the host computer 5. A communication interface 22, etc. that controls data transmission is connected.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the keyboard 16 includes a power on key 31, a power off key 32, an up key 33, a down key 34, an end key 35, [A] to
Preset key 36 for [O], numeric keypad 37 for [0] to [9], return key 38, communication key 39, clear key 40
Various keys such as a registration key 41 and the like are provided.

[0012] When the processor 11 is powered on by inputting the power on key 31,
An initial menu screen as shown in FIG. 3(a) is displayed on the liquid crystal display 18. Note that a plurality of initial menu screens are prepared and can be switched by key input using the up key 33 or the down key 34.

When the numerical data "7" is input using the numeric keypad 37 while the initial menu screen shown in FIG. 4A is displayed, the test transmission mode is selected (
mode selection means). The processor 11 is programmed to execute the control shown in FIG.

That is, it is checked whether the telephone number of the data transmission destination (telephone 4 installed at the headquarters where the host computer is installed) has been input in advance. If no input has been made, the display screen of the liquid crystal display 18 is switched to a telephone number input screen, and a telephone number input using the numeric keypad 37 is awaited.

If the telephone number has been input or has been input, the display screen of the liquid crystal display 18 is switched to the telephone number confirmation screen shown in FIG. 4(b). Note that the lower two lines of the above-mentioned telephone number input screen shown in FIG. 4(b) are not displayed.

Thereafter, when the communication key 39 is pressed, the dummy text is edited in a predetermined message format, and the dummy text is sent to the host computer 5 via the communication interface 22 according to a preset transmission procedure. . (Test communication control means)

As a result, when it is confirmed that the dummy text transmission task has been successfully completed, the display screen of the liquid crystal display 18 is switched to the communication end screen, and the printer 2
0 is operated to print out communication end information (test result output means), and this control is ended.

On the other hand, when it is confirmed that the dummy text transmission task has not been completed normally, the LCD display 1
8 is switched to the communication error screen, the printer 20 is operated to print out the communication error information (test result output means), and this control is ended.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the transmission procedure when the above-mentioned dummy text is transmitted normally. That is, first, from the telephone 3 on the handheld terminal 1 side to the host computer 5.
Dialing is performed to the telephone 4 on the side, and then a response request signal ENQ is transmitted from the handy terminal 1 to the host computer 5. Here, if the communication lines of the communication cable 6a, modem 2, communication cable 6b, telephone 3, public line 7, telephone 4, and communication cable 6c interposed between the handy terminal 1 and the host computer 5 are normal, Since a normal response ACK is returned from the host computer 5, transmission of the dummy text is started after waiting for it.

[0020] The above dummy text is composed of the message format shown in Fig. 7, and data [123] is fixed as the 3-byte phone type and store code, and the 244-byte dummy data is, for example, [000...] It is composed of appropriate data such as. Then, the dummy text of 10 records is repeatedly transmitted, and the transmission of the dummy text is completed.

The host computer 5 is programmed to recognize that if the store code of the received data is [123], it is dummy data and to discard the received text.

When the transmission of the dummy text is completed, a collection end request is sent from the handy terminal 1 side, and when a normal response ACK is received, a text end signal E is sent.
Send OT.

Thereafter, a response request signal ENQ is transmitted from the host computer 5 side, followed by data on the number of completed collections. In response, the line disconnection signal DLE/EO
T is sent and the process ends normally.

In this embodiment configured as described above, when checking the communication line between the handy terminal 1 and the host computer 5, the handy terminal 1
The communication interface 22 is connected to the telephone 3 via the communication cable 6a, the modem 2, and the communication cable 6b. In this state, key in the power on key 31 to turn on the power, display the initial menu screen shown in FIG. Communication mode is selected. Next, the telephone number of the telephone 4 connected to the host computer 5 is entered using the numeric keypad 37. Note that this telephone number may be entered before selecting the test communication mode.

After that, when you key in the communication key 39,
The dummy text in the message format shown in FIG. 7 is automatically edited, and the dummy text is sent to the host computer according to the transmission procedure shown in FIG.

Here, if the communication line between the handy terminal 1 and the host computer 5 is normal, the above-mentioned dummy data transmission process is completed normally, and the liquid crystal display 1
A communication end screen is displayed at 8, and communication end information is printed out by the printer 20.

On the other hand, if an abnormality has occurred in the communication line, the dummy data transmission process cannot be completed normally, and a communication error screen is displayed on the liquid crystal display 18 and the printer 20 Communication error information is printed out.

Therefore, the operator of the handy terminal 5 can reliably check the status of the communication line between the handy terminal 1 and the host computer 5 by selecting the test transmission mode and inputting a predetermined telephone number. can.

In this case, the host computer 5
is programmed to recognize that the received data is dummy data and discard it when the store code is [123], so the line status can be checked without affecting the actual management data. Become.

As a result, by performing the above-described test transmission before transmitting actual product data, abnormalities in the communication line can be discovered at an early stage, and can be repaired by prompt action. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of line abnormalities when transmitting actual product data, and it is possible to improve the efficiency of data transmission operations.

[0031] In the above embodiment, a public line is used as the communication line between the handy terminal 1 and the host device 5, but the communication line is not limited to this, and a dedicated line,
It goes without saying that the same method can be implemented using an optical communication line or the like. Further, the present invention can be applied to not only a portable terminal but also a stationary terminal for inputting product data. In addition, it goes without saying that various modifications can be made to the message format of the dummy text, the means for selecting the test transmission mode, etc. without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0032]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the connection status of a communication line can be checked in advance by transmitting dummy data with a simple operation.
It is possible to provide a product data input terminal that can improve the efficiency of actual data transmission operations.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall diagram of a system that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the handy terminal in the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a key layout diagram of the keyboard in the above-mentioned handy terminal.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of a liquid crystal display in the handy terminal.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing control when selecting a test transmission mode of the processor in the handy terminal.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a dummy text transmission procedure when the test transmission mode is selected.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a message format of dummy text when the test transmission mode is selected.

[Explanation of symbols]

1...Handy terminal (terminal for inputting product data),
5...Host computer, 11...Processor, 16...Keyboard, 18...Liquid crystal display, 20...Printer, 22...
communication interface.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A product data input terminal for transmitting data related to product sales, etc. inputted from a data input section to a host computer via a communication line, comprising: means for selecting a test transmission mode; a test communication control means for creating a test text using preset dummy data and transmitting it to the host computer via the communication line when a test communication mode is selected; and outputting a result of the test communication by the control means. A terminal for inputting product data, characterized in that it is equipped with test result output means.